Process and apparatus for the refining and purifying of liquids



Jan. 31, :1928.

P. T. SHARPLE S ET AL \PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE REFININGAND PURIFYING OF LIQUIDS Filed April 2, 1924 A TTORIVEY Patented Elli, i i i llll'll'l'liild lii l A lES PA l iii l lT FFlQEi PHILIP *1. $HART5'LE, UTE it? :3 4, AND LEO D. JQNES, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANlL't, ASS]: 330 '13. ,SItIAIEtPLES SPECIALTY GOIlIIlPANY, O]? PHILADEL- Tt-HIA, PENNEYLVANIA, [a GOltlPCriEtAiiION 0F DELAWABE.

PROCESS AND AElEiltItAT'UE-l FOR 'JLHE REFINING AND iI-UiEtIFYING O33 LIQUIDS.

Application filed itpril 2, 1924. Serial N0. 703,789.

Our invention relates to processes and aptrilugal machine we propose to effect the b paratus for the refining and purifying 01? a circulation of the air, gas or other agent, if liquid particularly by the removal theredesired, b means 1 th nmchine a part from 0t solid matter, or immiscible liquids, thereof.

a or volatile or low boiling miscible or soluit very important concrete application of ble substances, or by the removal o'l any two our invention resides in the refining and or more of such substances, or other 013- purilication oil oil thathas been used for lujectionable substances. brication in order to restore it to a useful l/Ve propose by our invention to remove condition. And from the ii oregoing it will solid. particles and immiscible liquids from a be immediately apparent that our invention desired liquid by a process and by apparatus is peculiarly adaptable to such restoration whereby the removal of solid matter will be ct oil that has been and is being used in the effectual and certain and the amount of solid lubrication of internal combustion engines matter removed or being removed will not because such oil contains, as is well known,

alter the degree completeness or etiectivesolid particles of metal resulting from wear ness of the removal of such solid matter, and abrasion of parts lubricated, solid parand to removeany ren'iaining imn'iiscible ticlei; of carbon resulting from incomplete liquid and volatile, low boiling, soluble, 0r combustion, solid particles of road dust, im-

other uncesirable substances by such means miscible though perhaps partly emulsified 20 and method as will insure complete or eiwater due to condensation from the atmosi ective removal. thereof without undesirably phere and products of combustion, light or 7 aiiecting the deired product; or we prolow'boiling oils such as gasoline andkeropose to so remove such 0i? said substances sene due to leakage past the pistons and as it may be desirable to remove. cracking of the lubricant, and sometimes 25 [is a more specific application of our in other objectionable substances. It has been ventlon we propose to remove solid matter proposed to restore such oils to a useful and immiscible liquid from a desired liquid state by filtering out the solid particles adby passing a mixture thereof through a corn mixed therewith and perhaps some water trittugal machine or to remove other objecand by distilling oil the low viscosity oils ac tionable constituents by appropriately treatby which it is diluted and perhaps any reing the substance under treatment while it inaining water, but such methods are sub is in a finely divided state, taking advantage iect to certain defects. The filters employed ot the fact that it the substance has been have proved inadequate to remove the solid passed through a centrifugal machine, for material or they rapidly become clogged and 35 example, to remove solid matter, the subin any event the degree of filtration effected stance is reduced to a finely divided state by them varies with the length of time the by being centriltugaily discharged from such filter has been in use and the filters ultimateinachine. Treatment oi the substance while ly become clogged and cease to function.

in a finely divided state may consist in bring- Vl hen a filter is first put into use the liner in ing into contact therewith a relatively large particles of solid matter are not removed quantity of air or that may or may not from the oil and if fine particles are be heated in order to effect thereby an eventually removed as the use of the filter evaporation or volatilization of constituents continues, the filter will invariably become that are to be removed, at a tenu ierature clogged and inoperative; and the resulting in lower than that at which such substances pressure on the filter will cause it to puncwould be evaporated or volatilized in a still ture and the previously filteredout material and lower than the ten'iperature at which will go back into the lubricating oil. The

any constituent of: the desired SlliiSt'EtIlCG distilling devices employed in such methods would be altered or removed from the deare, particularly in connection with autootl sired substance, or any agent, such, for exmobile engines, so small that they are either ample, as an oxidizing agent, with which it inoperative or th temperatures th t t. 108

is desired to treat the desired substance may be employed are high as to injure the inbe so applied thereto And it the substance bricating oil, and turther the control oi such so treated has been passed through a cen distilling devices is so uncertain that undesubstances that fall within those classes of substances, above mentioned, that we propose to remove from a desired substance in accordance With-our invention, we shall describe,

for the purpose out assisting in the understanding of our invention, an application of our invention to the purification of such lubricating oil, but we do not intend that our invention shall be limited to that illus tration of the application of our invention.

In order to restore lubricating oil of an internal combustion engine by the application of ourinvention we propose to pass the oil through a centrifugal separator to efiiect the removal ofsolid particles of metal, dust and carbon, the breaking down of any existing emulsion, and the removal of water. And we propose to reduce the oil so clarilied to an extremely finely divided state by centi'iitugally discharging it from such a separator and to bring into contact with the oil while in such a state so large a quantity of air or other gas, which may or may not be heated, that the undesirable oily constituents thereof, and any unremoved water, will be completely evaporated Without undesirable alteration of the desired oil. And as above noted the circulation of the air or gas may be effected by or from the rotation of the separator and it any further treatment of the oil is desired the appropriate reagent therefor may besubstituted for the air or gas. And in order that such a centritugal separator may be effective in so clarifying the oil and in so dispersing it that the evaporation or volatilization of undesirable liquids may occur, the separator is driven, in accordance with our invention, from the engine but in such a way that the separator will rotate at an effective speed regardless of the speed of the engine, this highly desirable condition beingsecured, in accordance with our invention, by so driving the separator that the ratio of: the engine speed to the separator speed and the ratio of the engine acceleration to the separator acceleration may vary.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of apparatus containing one embodiment of our invention as applied to an internal combustion engine and whereby our invention may be practised;

Fig. 2 is a detailed view; and

Fig. 3 shows a modification ot the construction shown in hig. 1.

It being understood that the apparatus hereinafter described is described merely for the purpose of illustrating one of many embodiments of our invention and tor illustrating one exemplary application ol' our process, it will be seen that in Fig. i there is indicated at 1 an internal conduudion eugine and at 2 a centrifugal lubricant purl tier. The oil of the engine 1 is collected in a reservoir, such as the casing 3, and deiiv ered by the pump it to the purifier from which it may be returned to the reservoir or casing 3. A counter shaft 5 of the engine 1 drives the pump st and for oil into the pipe (3 't'ron'i which the pipe carries the oil to the bearings and other parts 0? the engine that are to be luliiricated. Oil also passes from the pipe (3 to the oil presure controlling d vice 8 that may be of any well-l nown construction whereby oil that not needed for lubrication purposes is ac leased from the oil pressure s's'em to run back to the oil reservoir by the pipes fl. it) and 11. I'lmvever, such excess oil running to the reservoir through these pipes may, by means of the three way valve 12 be caused to run into the purifier through the feed pipe 13. The purifier includes the centritugal bowl ll enclosed in the casing to into which clarified oil is discharged, as hereinafter deicribed, and ti-om which the oil runs through the pipe 16 back to the pipe ll and thence into the oil reservoir. The motor 1? has a shaft 18. the tapered end of which fits into a recess in the bottom of the bowl Li, and a slot in the end 0? the shaft 18 engages a ridge 20 within said rccess, so that the bowl partake: oi? the speed of the motor. Oil discharged from the pipe 13 may be directed toward the sides ol' bowl l t by the inclined surface Ell, wings 22 may be en'iployed to insure that the oil will partake oi the speed o t the be -l. 14. The motor will rotate the bowl t1. at such speed, for example 8.000 R. P. fill, may be necessary to cause solidv particles and, at least a part (it any water that may be in the oil, to be thri'iwn outwardly against the inner wall of the bowl and oil properly freed of such contaminating producls will pass over the Weir or dam oi' the bowl. The oil passing: out of the bowl will. by reason of the high speed of the bowl, be dispersed in finely divided par icles in the space 2% between the bowl iland the casing" 15. vanes 25 on the bottom of the bowl l will cause a circulation oi? air or gas up through the passage 24- and out through the H If.

1 thin opening 26 in the cover 2'? oi the cadug 1: and the contact o i' the finely divided parli ill cles of clarified oil with a relatively large amount of gas or air in the passage 24. will effect an evaporation of such oily substances as should be removed from the clarified oil and also of any water that was not held in the centrifugal bowl 14. Air or gas circulated by the wings 25 is drawn into the opening 28 in the bottom of the casing 15 and such gas or air may be heated as by drawing it through the pipe 29 that leads from a stove 30 on the exhaust pipe 31 of the engine. Drawing of air or gas through the opening 28 will also tend to keep the motor 17 sufficiently cool. A rim 32 pre vents escape of oil through the opening 28 and the clarified oil, freed by distillation of undesirable oily substances, or any water that may be in it, passes into the pipe 16.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that our centrifugal purifier first withdraws from the oil solid substances and the hull; of any water that may be present therein, and then it disperses the oil so clarified throughout a relatively large body of air or gas that may be heated and, if necessary, the purifier produces a current of such gas or air, and the action of such gas or air upon the highly dispersed clarified oil is such that undesirable oily constituents thereof will be evaporated at temperatures far below their boiling points, the temperature at which those undesirable constituents evaporated in a still being 200 F. or 300 F. higher than the temperature at which they are evaporated while the clarified oil is dispersed.

The purifier bowl is preferably driven at a substantially constant speed. that is ordinarily greater than the maximum speed of the engine and many times greater than the idling speed of the engine. If the purifier is driven from the engine, as is preferable in the case of a purifier for lubricating oil of an automobile engine, a rigid connection between the engine and purifier would resultin its extremely great acceleration when the engine was rapidly accelerated as so frequently occurs in ordinary operation. Therefore, while various means may be employed, we show herein, means whereby the purifier may be driven from the engine in such a way that the ratio of engine accelera tion to purifier acceleration may vary and the ratio of engine speed to purifier speed may vary, all to the end that such practical difficulties may be avoided arise by reason of the acceleration of an engine that is driving another part, namely, the purifier, at a much higher speed. To this end the motor 17 is driven from the storage battery 3?) that derives its energy from the dynamo 34 that may be regulated in any well-known way) thatis driven from the counter shaft 5 of the engine.

The supply circuit of the motor contains a would be timing device 37, of any well-known construction, that is so designed that when the circuit is energized the timing device willmaintain the circuit for a given interval and thenbreak it. Upon closing the switch 36 the timing device energized, power is supplied to the motor 1? and to the solenoid 38, that operates the three way valve 12 by means of the lever 39.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the specific process and apparatus above described fall withinand constitute one application of and contain one cn'ibodin'ient of our invent-ion whereby our process may be practised, such process and apparatus being capable of purifying or refining oil by the removal of solid matter and of heavier liquid constituents and by the evaporation of undesirable oily or other liquid constituents, such evaporation being accomplished preferably by taking advantage of the highly dispersed state into which the clarifying op eration puts the substance being treated. But the clarifying operation may be carried out without being followed by further purifying operations such as the di. illation or evaporation herein described. And the distilling or evaporating operation may be carried out without being preceded by a clarify ing operation since the manner of putting the substance to be treated in a highly dispersed state and the degree ofdispersion may vary and the substance may be put in such state in other ways than by its discharge from a centrifugal bowl. It is also obvious that while we have shown means operated by the clarifier whereby circulation of air or gas through the dispersed substance may be effected, other means and methods may be employed whereby a large volume of vapor absorbing medium, such air or gas, maybe brought into contact with the dispersed sub stance. And in addition to or apart from the evaporation or volatilization eiiiected while the oil is in a finely divided state, a chemical treatment of the oil may be effected while it is in that state by bringing an appropriate reagent into contact therewith, for example, by substituting a 1.1articular gas for the air used to effect evaporation or vola-' tilization.

While separating devices are available that will continuously discharge both solid and liquid material, we have shown for the purpose of illustrating our invention a separator of what may be called the clarifier type in which solid. material and frequently some water are retained in the rotating bowl. But the bowl shown may be quickly and completely cleaned and it is to be noted that unlike a filtering device our clarifier will produce the same degree of clarification from the time operation is started with the bowl clean up to the time that the bowl is cleaned out again. By undoing the union coupling 40 and removing the pipe 13 and the cover 27 the bowl let may be taken out and all solid matter and water removed completely and in a simple manner utter which the cleaned bowl may he put back in operative position; or, the bowl, being; so removable, may be replaced by a new bowl as matter of repair or to dispense will the trouble of cleaning the bowl.

While we have described in great detail our process and apparatus embodying our invention and capable of use in the practice thereoit we do not Entend that our invention be limited to such (retails but we intend that it shall include such variations and modifications fall within the hereunto appended claims. In this connection we point out that in separating solid particles and immiscible liquid from a given liquid the separation is most effective i hen the sub stance being treated is highly fluid and that in separtion of such substances from lubricating oil of internal combustion engine this condition of fluidity is attained by retaining; in the oil the heat of the engine and the substances of lower boiling point that dilute and reduce the viscosity of the oil during "he time that such solid and other immiscible matter beingremoved. And the evaporation of diluting substances of lower boiling point that being ct'fe *ted at a temperature below that at which these substances would entirely evaporate in a still. by bringing into intimate contact with the oil large quantities of air or at or above atmospheric temperature, is furthered by retaining in the oil the heat o1 the engine. When our invention is applied to the purification oi the lubricant in the lubricating system of an internal combustion en- ;ine, as in the specific embodiment of: our

. invention. herein described. For the purpose of illustrating the same. it is not necessary to operate the purifier during all of the time that the engine is in operation because all of the lubricant in the system will be circulated and recirculated through the purifier several times during a few minutes of operation and although a single passage of? contaminated oil throuu'h the purifier will ordinarily sufiice to restore it to substantially its original condition. such recirculation will insure that the oil will be restored to a condition in which it will. fulfill every requirement. And thus operation of the pur fier for a Few minutes each day will insure thatthe oil will be in effective and uniform condition instead of being first perhaps too viscous and later grreatly lacking in viscosity and greatly contaminated with solid particles as occurs when oil is used. for some time without purification and then replaced with fresh oil. Circulation of air or other through the dispersed liquid discharged from the centrifuge may be efeanna].

:lected in ways other than by the use of vanes on the centrifuge as the mere rotation oi the centrifuge will ei'lic t a circulation o'l? air through the dispersed liquid; and air or gas may be brought into contact with the dispersed liquid merely by lispcrsiug the liquid in or into or wit n l 1c air or gas; and dispersion ot the liqu d may he cllected otherwise than by its discharp'c From a centrifuge. in oil applications o5 our process and other Li-0S of our apparatus the immiscible solid or heavier material removed from a given he may he the desired product and such sub mces will there-- tore he saved when thcv are removed from the bowl either manually or by ceut i'tuc'al force in the event that howl o sin known type that constantly liscliurpcs such sullstances employed. (h the evaporated constitutents of the liquid 11': he the desired substances. in wh ch event.

iii-cl i they will. he collected in any known mauzruf Un such Circun'istanccs the li ir'l tha is discharefiul 't'rom the bow or tl wart thrco'l that s ultimately collected hurls persci'l. in the specific i l strativc exampl of our invention here n dc rihed. would con sl'itutc the contaniin: uhstance and the heavier substances or sulla lcr hccu' disstances.

In Fig. 3 we have shown a modification oi: the specific embodiment oi our invent on herein described. wherein the shalt "l 5 ot the mot or 17 is OfIiiGlKlOtl downwardly and drives a pump -fithat is supplied with lubricant. from the engine lubrication system by the pipe (1 that leads from the lubricant reservoirfl ol the engine. The pump l del vers oil through the pipe 13 to the purifier. 'lhc motor is controlled by :nvitcl'iinof mechanism that may or may not include the tin'ie mutrollcd elemeniu such the tim ng device 37. Purified oil is returned to the rese voir fl by the pipe 16. Oil may be suppl ed to the purifier in any way and in the urrangi'eincut shown in Fig. 1 the luluicz'ent flowing to the purifier is only that part ot the lulu'iccnt that would in any event flow by e'ravitr hurl: to the oil reservoir as not heino; necessary to the luhrication oi. the engine. but in the a auq'i ucutshown in 3 itis not neces ary that the engine shall he runninui and o cratiugpump l because th pump will aise the oil to a point where will. as in the :rruuu'emcu shown in Fig. he ted by gravity to the purifier. although it is pretcrahlc in e ther case that the oil in th lu u'i atinu' s -Jstcui should be hot. in both the arrangement shown in Fig) l and the arnuuijcincnt shown in Fig. 5% the low oi lubricant to the pu ifier begins simultiuieously with the operatiiui ol the purifier. upon the closing; oi the m tor switch; and the pump that sends h lubricant to the purifier in both the arraiuxemcut Elli lllll lilo shown in 1 and the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, is operated by energy derived from the engine as in the latter arrangement the engine charges the battery that operates the motor 17. The gas-circulating vanes 25 may be dispensed with ifthe skin friction of the rotating bowl 14 causes suthcient circulation of air or gas in the passage 24.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, a centrifugal for removing solid particles and water from lubricant and so discharging the lubricant as to reduce it to a finely divided state, means for feeding lubricant of said system to said separator, means for bringing relatively large quantities of gas into contact with the lubricant while in said state, and means for returning the lubricant so treated to said lubricating system.

2. In combination with an internal con1- bustion engine having a lubricating system, a centrifugal purifier, means for feeding lubricant of said system to said centrifugal purifier, and means for bringing a relatively large quantity of gas into contact with the lubricant discharged from said centrifugal purifier.

3. In combination.with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, a centrifugal for removing solid particles and water from the lubricant and so discharging the lubricant as to reduce it to a finely divided state, means for feeding lubricant of said system to said centrifugal, and means op erated from said centrifugal for bringing relatively large quantities of gas into con tact with the lubricant while in said state.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, a centrifugal bowl having a weir overwhich lubricant of said system freed of heavier contaminating substances is centrifugally discharged, a chamber receiving the lubricant so discharged, and means whereby rotation of said bowl circulates gas through said chamber.

5. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, a centrifugal bowl having a weir over which lubricant of said system freed of heavier contaminating substances is centrifugally discharged, a chamber receiving the lubricant so discharged, and means for circulating relatively large quantities of gas at or above atmospheric temperture through said chamber.

6. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, means for centrifugally separating heavier contaminating substances from lubricant of said system, means for evaporating from the lubricant so purified contaminating sub stances of lower boiling point at a temperature below the boiling point of said substances at atmospheric pressure, and means whereby oil so purified is returned to said system.

7. In combination with. an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, means separate from and driven from said engine for finely dispersing lubricant of said system into a mist-like form, means for bringing relatively large quantities of gas at or above atmospheric temperature into contact with the dispersed lubricant to evaporate from the lubricant substances of lower boiling point, a collecting chamber for purilied oil, and oil return connections between said chamber and said system.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, means forremoving heavier contaminating substances from lubricant of said system and for finely dispersing said lubricant, and means for bringing the lubricant so dis persed into contact with relatively large quantities of gas to evaporate from the 111- bricant contaminating substances of lower boiling point.

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, a chamber, a rapidly rotating member driven from said engine,and means for feeding lubricant of said system to said member to effect dispersion of the liubricant as it is thrown therefrom, means separate from said engine for flowing through said chamber, and means for returning to said system lubricant collected in said chamber.

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, a chamber, a rapidly rotating member separate from said engine, and means for feed ing lubricant of said system to said member to effect dispersion of the lubricant as it is thrown therefrom, and means separate from said engine whereby rotation of said mem ber brings a relatively large quantity of gas into contact with said dispersed lubricant.

11. In combination with an internal com bustion engine having a lubricating system, centrifugal means driven from said engine for reducing lubricant of said system, while it retains the heat of the engine, to a finely dispersed state, means for flowingv in contact with the lubricant so dispersed relatively large quantities of gas heated by said engine, and means for collecting and returningthe lubricant to said system.

12. In a centrifugal machine, a centrifugal bowl of the type whereby a mixture is separated into constituents and a constituent is discharged in a finely divided state, a chamber into which said constituent is so discharged and collected, said chamber having an outlet for said constituent, and means for maintaining a flow through said chamber and in contact with said constituent while it is in finely divided state of gas of suitable character to effect a desired change in said constituent.

13. In a centrifugal machine, a centrifugal boWl of the type whereby a substance is subjected to the influence oi centrifugal forceto eliect achange therein and to discharge the substance in afinely divided state, a chamber into which said substance is so discharged and collected, said chamber having an outlet for said substance, and means for controlling the condition of the substance While it exists in such finely divided state comprising means for maintaining a flow of. suitable gas in contact with the substance while it is in said state in said chamber.

14. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, a centrifugal purifier for lubricant of said system, a generator driven by said engine, a motor for said purifier and electrically connected to said generator, and a storage battery, electrically connected to said generator and said motor.

15. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system and having an electrical system including a storage battery, acentritugal purifier for the lubricant in said system, and a motor for operating said purifier at substantially const'aut speed and electrically connected to said battery.

16. In combination with an internal co1nbustion engine comprising the power source of an automotive vehicle and having a lubricating system, a centrifugal lubricant purifier, and means for driving said purifier by energy derived from said engine at a speed substantially independent of the speed ot'the engine.

- 17. In combination with an internal combustion engine comprising the power source of an automotive vehicle and having a -lubricating system, a centrifugal lubricant purifier, and purifier driving means deriving its energy from said engine and whereby the ratio of engine speed and acceleration to purifier speed and acceleration may vary.

18. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, means separate from and driven from said engine for finely dispersing lubricant of said system into a mist-like form, means for supplying heat of said engine to said lubri cant while it exists in such finely divided state and thereby evaporating from the oil low boiling contaminating substances, and means for returning to said system oil so treated.

19.v In combination with an inte nal coinbustion engine having a lubricatin system, a centrifugal for removing immiscible substances from lubricant'of said system and dispersing the lubricant in finely divided earner particles, and means for evaporating contaminating miscible or soluble substances from the lubricant so dispersed.

20. In combination with an internal coiubustion engine having a lubricating system, means for rciuoring immiscible substances from lubricant oi? said syiicui and dispersing the lubricant in linely divided particles, and means for evaporating miscible nr soluble contaminating substances from the lubricant so dispersed.

Bl. In a centri" gal machine. a. cculri' gal bowl at the it e whereby F! i containi nating sub, tauccs are rcun wed from a liquid and the liquid to purified is discharged in a finely divided state, a chamber into which the dispersed liquid is discha ed, and means for evaporating contaminati g :uibstances from the liquid comprising mean for lioning gas into contact with the liquid so dis persed.

22. In combination with an internal coinbustion engine having a lubricating systcr'i, a purifier, a motor for operating the purifier, and means for simultaneously conticlling Said motor and .tlow o'l lubricant from said sy.--.teiu to said purifier.

In combination with an internal coinbustion cu inc operable at variable speed, :1 luliiricant l .-.(l'\' ?ll, a lubricant purifier, a pump for pas Pant from said i'- rvoir to said purifier, and means whereby said pump and purilicr are opcw ated by energy derived from the said puriticr is operated at sub in form speed.

24-. In combination with an internal com-- bastion engine having a lubricating sy and having an electrical r-vi-tciu inc! storage batt a centri'i u al purifier lor lhc lubricant in said system, connections bctwccu said lubricating sy em and sa d pu iici purilicr and returning said lubrica svstciu. a motor tor oper ating said puru stantiully constant speed, and electrical connccticu hclwccu Said motor and said battery.

25. In the {unification oi lubricant of the lubricating system (it an internal :Wlllllllhd ion engine the process which con it in cm]- trifugall treating the lubricu while it re tains the heat of the t .c and liquids oi low viscosity and boiling point, to remove heavier contaminating 2b tanccs therefrom y divided particles,

and then bring iv l l:=.{,i'c quantities of gas at or abowc atmospheric t-cnul alurc into contact with id p iclcs to evaporate the liquids of low viscosity and boiling point.

26. The method (it centrii'iurally treating a substance which comprises subjecting); the substance to the action of centrifugal I'm-cc and thereby ellccting a desired chanojc and discharging the substance in a finely divided I" On) lit] state, and maintaining a flow ot suitable gas into which the substance is so discharged and thereby controlling alteration of the substance due to its contact with such gas while the substance is in such finely divided state. 27. In the purification of lubrican of the lubricating system of an internal combustion engine the process which comprises withdrawing from the system a portion of the lubricant therein, centrifugally treating the withdrawn lubricant to remove heavier contaminating substances therefrom and to disperse the lubricant in finely divided partielse, and flowing into contact with the lubricant so dispersed relatively large quantities of gas suitable to eii ect a desired change in the lubricant.

28. In the purification of lubricant oi the lubricating system of an internal combustion engine the process which consists in with drawing a traction of the lubricant oil? said system, centril'ugally treating said fraction to remove heavier contaminating substances therefrom, bringing relatively large quantities of gas into contact with the lubricant to evaporate contaminating substances of lower boiling point, and returning said fraction to the system.

29. In the refining of liquids the process consisting in centrifugally removing certain contaminating substances therefrom and centrifugally lischarging the liquid so purified and thereby dispersing the liquid into mist-like form, and maintaining a How of gas in contact with the liquid so finely dispersed to effect removal or treatment of other contaminating substances.

30. In the refining of liquids the process consisting in centrii ugally discharging the liquid in line separate particles and bringing relatively large quantities or": an active gaseous agent into contact withthe liquid so dispersed to effect treatment of the liquid by said agent while the liquid is so dispersed.

31. In the purification of lubricant ot the lubricating system of an internal combustion engine the process which consists in heating air from said engine and passing it through the lubricant while the lubricant is in mist-like form and retains the heat of the engine to evaporate lower boiling contaminatingsubstances at a temperature be low the boiling point or": said substances at atmospheric temperature. 7

32. in the purification oi ll'ibl'ltitllt oi the lubricating system of an internal combustion engine the process cons sting in dis persing the lubricant in m. t-lilre :lorm and supplying heat from the engine to such par ticles to effect evaporation of contaminating constituents.

33. in the refining, o1 lubricant ot' the lubricating system of an internal combustion. engine, the process consisting in contrifugally removing certain contaminating substances from the lubricant, and thereby dispersing the lubricant in finely divided particlesin a gas to ellect evaporation therefrom oi": other contaminating substances.

23 i. lln the purification of lubricant oil the lubricating system of an internal combustion engine the process consisting in withdrawing lubricant from said system, dispersing the withdrawn lubricant in mist-like form in a gas to effect evaporation therefrom of contaminating constitutents, collect ing the particles, and returning the lubricant to said system.

35. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricating system, centrifugal means for removing certain con taminating substances from the lubricant of said system and dispersing the lubricant in finely divided particles in a gas to efiect evaporation of other contaminating constituents therefrom, and means for collecting said particles and returning the lubricant to said system.

86. ln combination, centrifugal means for removing certain contaminating substances from a liquid and dispersing the liquid in a finely divided state in a gas to eilect evaporation of other contaminating constituents therefrom, and means for collecting the particles so dispersed.

37. lin combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricatin system, a chamber, a rapidly rotating mem er separate from said engine and driven therefrom, means for withdrawing lubricant from said system and feeding it to said member to effect dispersion of the lubricant into mistlilre form as it; is thrown therefrom, means separate from said engine for flowing gas through said chamber, and means for returning to said system lubricant collected in said chamber.

38. lln combination with an internal combustion engine comprising the power source of an automotive vehicle and having a lubrieating system, a centrifugal rotor of the type whereby solid impurities are retained within the rotating rotor and oil is discharged therefrom in mist-like form into the surroundingair, means for driving said rotor at a speed substantially independent of the speed of said engine, means for feeding lubricant of said system to said rotor, and means for returning to said system oil discharged from said rotor.

39. ln combination with an internal combustion engine comprising the power source of an automotive vehicle and having a lubricating system, means for withdrawing lubricant from said system, a chamber exterior to the confines of said engine, rotor rotating means associated with said chamber and I LoBZEM-I driven from said engine and at a speed suhcant into the surrounding air, and means stantially independent of the speed thereof, for collecting and returning to said system a replaceable rotor in said chamber and havlubricant so discharged. 1 ing adriving connection with said rotating In testimony whereof, We have signed our means and receiving lubricant so Withdrawn names to this specification.

and separating therefrom and retaining im- PHILIP T. SHARPL'ES. miscible impurities While discharging lubri- LEO D. JONES. 

